Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) of Russia, detained in Karlovy Vary on May 24 for alleged drug possession and released on May 26, has exited the Czech Republic. “I have left the Czech Republic for now. Given how easily such events occur, I worry about a recurrence,” said Hilarion, who ministers at the Cathedral of St. Apostles Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary. He plans to inform Patriarch Kirill about the incident, according to TASS.
On May 24, authorities stopped Hilarion’s car en route to Prague, discovering packets of powder in the trunk. The cleric was detained in Unchošt, Central Czech Republic, where tests confirmed the packets contained narcotics.
By May 26, Hilarion was released without charges. He complained of the uncomfortable detention conditions, noting he felt cold and likened his situation to that of apostles Peter and Paul. “The investigation is ongoing to determine the nature of the substances and identify the fingerprints on the packets,” he stated.
Following his release, Hilarion left the Czech Republic. This marks his second departure from a European country amid controversy. Two years prior, he exited Hungary after a scandal involving a young man, despite being close to Orbán and holding Hungarian citizenship. Unpunished by church canons, he was relocated to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic to continue his ministry.
The detention triggered diplomatic tensions, prompting the Russian Foreign Ministry to summon Czech deputy ambassador Jan Ondřejka to Moscow on Tuesday, expressing “strong protest” over what they deemed baseless actions by Czech authorities.
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